Design Build (191)

The recent announcements of a proposed speculative office tower and the unveiling of plans for Michigan State University’s long-anticipated Biomedical Research Center in Grand Rapids point to heightened demand for modern facilities in the city’s central business district.

Kendall College of Art and Design thinks that for West Michigan to continue ramping up its reputation as a hub for design-based companies, it must make clear what “design-centered thinking” is all about.

As dozens of new market-rate multifamily units come online in the downtown Grand Rapids market and in the nearby neighborhoods, developers have also turned their attention to serving housing demand in the suburbs.

Grand Rapids-based Pioneer Construction Co. and Grand Valley State University came away with the most honors as part of this year’s Excellence In Construction Awards presented by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Western Michigan Chapter.

Fewer submissions for the Honors Awards presented by the Grand Rapids chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIAGR) probably translates into good news for the West Michigan industry as a whole.

As Kendall College of Art and Design launches its new graduate program in architecture this fall, the school realizes that it will need to differentiate itself from an already crowded field of educational offerings.

While the national outlooks for the architecture industry point to a slow or flat growth trajectory for the coming months, that’s not translated into a slowdown for West Michigan design firms and contractors.